LANDOVER, Md., Jan. 15, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Prince George's Community Foundation (PGCF), a regional affiliate of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, has approved 30 grants totaling $329,000 from the National Harbor Community Outreach Grant Fund for 2008. The grants, ranging from $5,000 to $15,800, will support 30 nonprofit organizations in the areas of workforce development, arts and culture, education, recreation and social services for children, youth, young adults and senior citizens.
Artis Hampshire-Cowan, President of PGCF's board remarked, "As a Board of Directors, we are very proud to be a part of the important movement of helping organizations reaching out in our Prince George's County neighborhoods to better serve our people in need. The National Harbor Community Outreach Grant Fund helps us to expand our services to nonprofit organizations. We are grateful to our County Executive, Mr. Jack Johnson, our County Council under the leadership of Ms. Camille Exum, and Mr. Milt Peterson, Founder of The Peterson Companies, for agreeing to the management of the fund by The Prince George's Community Foundation. The fund has been managed in a professional manner and with complete transparency. We congratulate the organizations that were best able to meet the criteria and we look forward to continued excellent programs in our county." "The application review was rigorous," noted PGCF Executive Director Desiree Griffin-Moore. "We received 223 proposals submitted by large and small nonprofit organizations, requesting a total of $5 million. With $329,000 available, the selection process was very tough." Proposals were received from a wide array of organizations working in the areas of recreation, education, social services, leadership development, and arts and culture, among others.
The most important criteria were based upon standard "indicators of effectiveness", as defined by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. The indicators utilized to evaluate proposals included: 1) a sound strategy for achieving realistic goals; 2) collaboration in the delivery of services; 3) leveraging support so that resources can be maximized; 4) leadership and governance that reflect sound management practices; 5) outcomes that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, cost effective and relevant; 6) an evaluation process that measures and maintains outcomes and accomplishments; and 7) sound financial health that reflects a realistic budget and organizational systems that are in compliance with state, federal and foundation reporting systems.
In addition, in 2007 PGCF held an informational meeting on September 20th and a daylong technical assistance session on September 29th. Close to 200 participants attended each session. Organizations learned about the National Harbor Fund grants program and its expectations, providing nonprofits with best-practices information and standards for writing grant proposals. "We felt that it was critical to offer technical assistance to organizations seeking help in writing their proposals," said Griffin-Moore.
PGCF is committed to helping nonprofits build their capacity to secure funding from a range of sources. Along with the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers, PGCF has initiated the Partnership for Prince George's County. This is the first time that PGCF has been engaged in a strategic effort to galvanize local and regional philanthropic support of the county's nonprofit community. The ultimate goal is to help Prince George's County nonprofit organizations grow stronger and obtain significant financial support for their programs from many of the larger corporate and philanthropic organizations throughout the area.
Following is a complete list of 2007 National Harbor Community Outreach Grant Fund grantees.
Accokeek Foundation Accokeek, MD $15,000 To support expansion of the African American interpretation program at National Colonial Farm Alexandria Seaport Foundation Alexandria, VA $10,000 To support boat-building apprenticeships for two residents of Prince George's County Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area Lanham, MD $15,000 To support one-on-one mentoring and family support services Christmas in April Prince George's County Clinton, MD $10,000 To support the purchase of supplies and materials needed to repair the homes of elderly and/or disabled homeowners Community Legal Services of Prince George's County, Inc. Hyattsville, MD $5,000 To support free legal advice to residents of Oxon Hill, MD, and legal representation to special education students, ensuring appropriate school placement Community Services Agency of the Metropolitan Washington Council Washington, DC $5,920 To support the Building Futures Apprenticeship Outreach and Recruitment Project, which provides apprenticeship and training opportunities for 30 Prince George's County residents ages 17 and older Covenant House Washington, DC $15,800 To support the Street and Community Outreach Program, which assists youth living on the streets in finding safe and appropriate living environments, and provides them with a range of support services Cultural Academy for Excellence Hyattsville, MD $12,500 To support a music-based academic and life skills enrichment out-of-school program for 80 at-risk youth between the ages of 7 and 18 From Rags to Riches Inc. Riverdale, MD $10,000 To support community-based supervision and therapeutic services to female ex-offenders in Prince George's County Functional Fitness 4 Kids, Inc. Fort Washington, MD $14,680 To support providing a safe, fun and nondiscriminatory environment in which children can exercise, build relationships and gain nutritional information Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc. Hyattsville, MD $10,000 To support the improvement and expansion of the Family Literacy Program, which serves primarily African immigrant and Latino children from low-income households International Life Sciences Institute Research Foundation Washington, DC $10,000 To support implementation of the TAKE 10! Program, which introduces grade-specific concepts with age-appropriate movement to elementary school teachers and students Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation of Maryland, Inc. Hyattsville/Landover, MD $6,000 To support implementation of the Saturday Academy A-MAN Program at the Samuel Massie School in Forestville, MD Little Foot Daycare, Inc. Accokeek, MD $10,000 To support purchase of a van for transporting children to recreational, cultural and arts activities Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region Washington, DC $10,000 To support augmentation of the science curriculum and expansion of recreational opportunities for Prince George's County school children Minority Access, Inc. Hyattsville, MD $12,500 To support two, three-week arts camps Our Black Authors Foundation Largo, MD $10,000 To support expansion of the writing camp and other writing activities, including web platforms and technology, for 80 students Prince George's Child Resource Center, Inc. Largo, MD $10,000 To support eight, 10-week series of Baby Arts Play and Wolftrap Residency at the organization's Adelphi/Langley Park Family Support Center Prince George's Tennis and Education Foundation Largo, MD $10,000 To support tennis instruction, fitness training, academic assistance and college preparation training to 450 youth Reaching Objectives Through Joint Action Suitland, MD $15,000 To support academic programs and activities for youth and parents from low-income households Shabach Ministries Landover, MD $5,000 To support educational and enrichment opportunities for youth in the graphics production industry Soul in Motion Players, Inc. Rockville, MD $15,000 To support Fort Washington, MD-based BodyMoves, LLC, providing enrichment opportunities to 20 youth and teens in the performing arts and fitness areas St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home Hyattsville, MD $10,800 To support comprehensive residential services to young, single mothers in Prince George's County, MD Donald M. Taylor Aeronautical Academy Fort Washington, MD $10,000 To support the implementation of formal planning pertaining to staff, curriculum design and selection of instructional materials and resources Top Banana Home Delivered Groceries, Inc. Brandywine, MD $15,000 To support helping more than 200 Prince George's County seniors maintain involvement in community life Training Source Seat Pleasant, MD $10,000 To support the planning and implementation of an eight-week Life and and Ability Skills Training Program assisting developmentally disabled youth who are exiting the public schools United Communities Against Poverty, Inc. Capital Heights, MD $5,800 To support adult basic education, job readiness and job search assistance to unemployed and/or underemployed residents ages 17 to 24 Paul Lawrence Vann Foundation Fort Washington, MD $15,000 To support financial literacy and authorship for 120 youth World Arts Focus Mount Ranier, MD $10,000 To support arts education, cultural enrichment, mentoring and outreach activities in Mount Ranier, MD, and neighboring municipalities in the Prince George's Gateway Arts District/Route 1 corridor YMCA of Metropolitan Washington Washington, DC $15,000 To support expansion of the Zesty Trailblazers Program for seniors at the organization's Potomac Overlook branch in Fort Washington, MD
The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3032
The Prince George's Community Foundation logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4591